St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-21
FOR THE SOLDIERS HOME.
The Chamber ofCommerce Favors
the Minnehaha Site.

the Minnehaha Site.
AT the meeting of the chamber of
commerce yesterday morning the com
mittee on streets, roads and parks made
a report reciting that difference of
opinion existed between the council
and the park commission, expressing
regret therefor, and suggesting that the
park commissioners and the common
council, by such committee as they may
see fit To appoint, hc invited To meet the
committee on streets, roads and parks
of the chamber of commerce to see
whether the difficulty which has arisen
may not be overcome. and general
plan for Il system of parks and boule-
wards he speedily adopted. The report
was adopted. Wilbur ii. Howard was
elected IA director to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of q. L.. Far
well. The executive committee made
report To the effect that it looked with
concern upon the effect that such
place aS the Turf Exchange should be
allowed to exist in st. Paul, and that
the attention of the authorities of the
city and county be called to the fact.
The report was adopted. The same
committee reported that the establish
ment and maintenance of slaughter
houses in the district between st. Paul
and Minneapolis was very undesirable,
and in favor of the city continuing with
vigor all prosecutions against the same.
This report was also adopted.
THE SOLDIERS HOME AND A PARK.
The committee on streets, roads and
parks made report in regard to the
condemnation of forty acres of land
near Fort Smelling, on this side of the
river, to be used as park in connection
with the soldiers home.
stated in the preamble; also, that the
Legislature appropriated $4,000 for the
establishment of Il soldiers home, of
which sum Si0,0 only can be raised for
the purchase of site. The legislature
made standing appropriation of S20,-
000a year for its maintenance. The
trustees are authorized To receive, in be-
half of the state, donations of money,
personal property or real estate in aid of
its establishment; and are required to
select site Eat such place as shall mt
the time be most economical to the state
and best adapted to the wants of the in
Stltition. having regard in the selection
thereof To elevation, sewerage and drain
age an abundant supply of living water,
facilities of access. the qualities of the
soil and the price asked for the land"
Ii is apparent that no acceptable site
can he procured in st. Paul and Mime
form or another be made by SAID cities.
Nor can we expect the trustees will
agree upon Il site near these cities UNI
less the two cities themselves are agreed
upon a locality. If public spirit and
concord are wanting, we may abandon
the idea of securing the home in this
vicinity. 1t is noteworthy that
the eXSoldierS of the two cities
have agreed upon IA site, and the ques-
IL txil h.A .ltt la,
tain them. Are we prepared to foregO
some preference, for example in regard
to parks, in order to make the efforts
and agreement of the eX-sOldierS effect
i've III this important matter?
While your committee think the loca-
ton of the state soldiers home about
midway between the two cities would
prove mutually beneficial, it is of the
opinion that the question of location
should he decided on its merits and not
To suit the interest or wishes of any par
ticular city. What site will prove best
for the comfort and happiness Of the in
mates? The site mt Minnehaha has the
attraction of magnificent Mississippi
river scenery, where its banks and is
lands are clothed with virgin forest.
Near by and i'll sight is Fort Smelling.
whose associations will always be inter
eSting to the old soldiers of Minnesota.
that would he about lis pleasant during
the summer months, we submit that
during the long winters IL is desirable
for the happiness Of the inmates of the
home that 1T be near pOpulOuS center,
where they can expect opportunities for
recreation and for mingling with their
friends. Our state soldiers home will
be I'm object of increasing interest for
THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS.
In hoe
state will have doubled its present pop
ulation, the people of all parts of Min
neSota will wish to visit the soldiers
home; and ii we regard facilities of ac-
ceSS,c0uld they not do so much more con-
veniently If it were located at the
site designated between st. Paul and
Minneapolis, than if it were located ut a
distant interior place? Even now hun
dred thousand or more of the people of
this, state annually come to visit the
state fair and the Minneapolis EXPOSE
ton, and on such occasions they could
readily take In the soldiers home. To
secure the location of the home, how
ever, at Mlnnehaha, ii appears essential
that about 100 acres on the st. Paul bank
OF The Mississippi, opposite thereto, be
donated by the state, or what would
answer aS well, be condemned and held
as public park.
pAA NNNH NilHuut any TtSdTu 10 Illp
soldiers home, the enlightened public
of st. Paul has long favored the estab-
lishment of Il park on both sides of the
Mississippi at Minnehaha, and, consid-
ering the rapidity with which land be-
tween the two cities Is being plated
into, lots, ii would seem that proceedings
for securing this park, so far as our side
of the river is concerned. should not be
delayed. The hoard OF park commits
SionerS of st. Paul now have the means
and power to secure 100 acres or more
and the more the better-for public
park for the use of the city of st. Paul
on the picturesque bank OF the Missis-
sippi river opposite Minnehaha falls.
We believe the best nteresa of the city
and the voice of public opinion reQuir
them to take prompt action to accem
plish this object. To do this will require
but quarter part OF their available
funds, say $JO,O00 But, taking into
view the fact that such action will tend
very much tn secure the location Of the
state soldiers home at the place indi-
Gated, we are or the opinion that their
proceeding 10 lay out park there will
prove all the more satisfactory to the
public. On these, and other grounds
which might be stated, your committee
are unanimously OF the opinion that the
foregoing preamble and resolution
should be adopted.
AT the conclusion ut the reading OF
the report Gen. &. e. Andrews spoke ut
length In favor Ut the adoption of the
report. Mr.. Murray spoke against the
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